For the first time in recent history, they are entering an off-season starving for starting pitching. Their well of winning arms has dried up and not coincidentally, so, too did their winning ways – last season, they finished in last place, thanks in large part to an American League-high 4.78 ERA from their rotation.

And general manager Al Avila's highest priority this winter is adding two starting pitchers to that rotation, either in free agency or via trade.

"The reason I say that is because some of the young guys that we have that we like, we would like to not push them so much where we are going in with three young guys per se and try to win a championship," Avila said this week on MLB Network. "You can have one guy in there, but you can't have three."

In free agency, the Tigers will not be players for the top crop.

But Avila's goal, as detailed last month in his season-ending meeting with reporters, is to land a pitcher they can slot into their top three — behind ace right-hander Justin Verlander and hopefully healthy Anibal Sanchez.

If the Tigers walked away with two of those pitchers, they would have a rotation with left-hander Daniel Norris — the prized piece in their trade of David Price at the trade deadline — slotted into the fifth spot, and a rotation more than capable of competing in the AL Central.

But more likely than not, they will have to settle for one of that pack.

In looking at other back-end options, lefty J.A. Happ and righty Chris Young could offer the stability they seek. A number of lottery tickets litter the market, from former Tiger righty Doug Fister to former All-Star Cliff Lee.

And while the first question has already been answered — they are targeting starting pitchers — the next — which combination they will capture — remains to be seen.